Many unusually large South Sea cultured pearls have been identified at GIA laboratories in the past (e.g., Fall 2013 Lab Notes, pp. 172–173; Summer 2023 Lab Notes, pp. 216–217). However, a recent ...

At the AGTA show, the author spoke with Brent Smith, owner of Phoenix Gems (Holly, Michigan), who shared a few parcels of rough spinel of different colors recently mined in Malawi. According to Smith, ...

While Federal financial aid is not available for Online Education students, GIA-administered scholarships and payment plans for selected online courses are. GIA scholarship application cycle is from ...

Whether you’re taking the next step in your professional journey or starting a new career, GIA courses and diploma programs prepare you for success. We offer the finest gem and jewelry education in ...

Designed for clients who seek in-depth insights into every aspect of a jewelry item. Comprehensive analysis of the diamonds in an item, including number of stones, shape, estimated carat weight, color ...

Figure 1. Left: 18K yellow gold “Flames” ring with 25.19 ct Mexican fire opal. Right: This 18K yellow gold “Spice” ring ...

Aquamarine and heliodor are colored by Fe ions, an important coloring agent for beryl. Blue to yellow gem beryl was studied by quantitative spectroscopy and trace-element analytical techniques to ...

Gem inclusions are mineral crystals or cavities filled with fluid and/or gas that occur in a host gemstone. Many gems contain microscopic inclusions (ranging in size from >1 mm down to submicroscopic ...

Two specimens of faceted crystalized carbon - both are crystal clear and give off a kaleidoscope of spectral colors in direct light. They appear to be identical. One, however, is a billion or more ...

Descending into Peshawar for the first time, a foreign tourist might be surprised to learn that amid the clutter of buildings in this historical city lies an important gem trading center. This market ...

Before cutting and polishing, diamonds have highly variable surface features rarely, if ever, seen by the jewelry wearer. These features can tell an interesting story of diamond’s geological history ...

Diamonds have a long history as a premier gemstone—a natural consequence of their beauty, rarity, and superlative physical properties such as extreme hardness. Diamonds that are mined for use as ...